April 2009 Entries

April 21st, 2009

Our Favorite Hunters came in this week, Tay and Stacey Bond. Tay shot a beautiful Grant's Zebra, and a Sable. His buddy, Will, came along as well and ended up taking a Zebra as well. I'm getting one of the back-straps from Tay's Zebra, so I'll let you know how it tastes.

We have a couple of hunters coming this weekend, and then about a week off from what is looks like now. Joanie and I took some time off last week and went to the Spurs vs Hornets Game. We scored some courtside seats for less than face value, and had a great time in SA for a couple of days. We stayed at the Marriott on the Riverwalk, and hit up the Alamo one day as well.

Here are some pics:

AB

April 11th, 2009

Rant of the week, month, day, whatever. Billy Bob Thornton is quite the tool! Yes, a bonafide wanna-be country boy jackass. This is a guy who only sells tickets to shows
for his crappy band because of his acting career. The ironic part, well just watch the video (link below). I am speaking first hand on the quality of his music...I unfortunately saw him a couple of years
ago at Antones in Austin, and only made it through 4-5 shitty songs. The guy spent more time changing clothes, smoking cigs, and talking about his ex-wives, than actually singing.

Crazy week. If you ever wanted to attend the Masters in Augusta, this was definitely the year. The prices to get in are ridiculously cheap this year. You could see the golf course yesterday for only $250...most years a Thursday ticket averages $1000.

In other news, Joanie is now 7 weeks prego, and we both think it's a boy. Something about a low heart-beat (122 per minute), and the way conception went (my secret).

All went well last weekend with the Hunt Lodge and my Dad running things. We had two families last weekend for 5 days, and my dad guided hunts for Scimitar Horned Oryx, a Big Gold Medal Texas Dall, a Red Sheep, Water Buffalo (pic above), and an Addax Antelope. Luke guided with him
on Monday and Tuesday. I'm looking forward to getting back to Texas next week...I have 2 hunts this coming weekend which should be fun.

Joanie and I are taking a little vacation on Tuesday...don't know where yet, but someone for 2-days. Was thinking Port Aransas or possibly Del Rio/Lake Amistad...wish I had my boat out of the shop.

I'm hitting the road Monday morning and driving back. It's not too late to come out to Augusta for this year's Masters... I have 3 empty beds in our house next to the golf course@!
AB

April 5th, 2009

Well, settled into Augusta now and buying up tickets and badges like a mad man. I think this event will heat up nicely next week...there are a bunch of folks out here who need
tickets and badges still and have not pulled the trigger yet. I've decided to make this event a low-stress ordeal this year...make a little money for the company, eat some good food, drink a few cold beers,
and watch a little golf.

I left Hunt, TX Friday morning at 6:00am and got to Birmingham, Alabama that night around 8:30pm...about 900 miles. Then, drove the other 350 miles to Augusta yesterday morning.
I really don't mind the distance driving...I actually would rather do that, if you have the time, than fly. I used to volunteer all the time when I worked at Ticket City. You get
to see so much of what people take for granted...Yes, Louisiana is full of Coon-asses with jacked up teeth, but driving along the Swamps on I-10 is beautiful. And Alabama is so pristine that you can just imagine that
it looked the same 200 years ago when settlers where building log cabins in the forests and rivers, and chasing Creek Indians out of there land to Oklahoma.

My Dad took care of his first group of clients on his own this past weekend. They shot a Scimitar Horned Oryx and a Gold Medal Texas Dall Ram. I just spoke with the client on the phone, and he said that my Father did a great job. Now, he has another client coming in today from Mexico
which will be a little more of a handful as he's taking some fairly high-end species including a Water Buffalo, Addax Antelope, and Record Red Sheep. Then, he might actually have another hunt already booked next weekend before I get back. The hunting business is really working out for us lately...especially now that I don't have to be
there to manage the entire operation. We were booked all but 3-4 days in March and we're booked every weekend until late May with clients.
AB